I See Butterflies In My Dreams

Is it like a sign or an omen or something? I can't escape the butterflies all of a sudden. I am not a nature girl, DEFINITELY not a nature girl. I do have a flower garden, which I use for potpourri ingredients, but I don't plant it, or weed it or even water it. That's what nieces and nephews are for!

Nope, I don't commune personally, but lately, I seem to be drawn to images of vintage butterflies, birds, and flowers. I am on butterfly overload! They are so pretty, though, aren't they? Who doesn't love a flutterby, with their gloriously colored wings and little antennae...okay, well I honestly don't love the creepy little antennae thingies so much, but I'm firmly on the butterfly bandwagon.

One of my favorite backgrounds to use for image transfers is a butterly collage. Hudnreds of line drawn butterflies you can put on any color clay, including marbled scrap clay like these. It was a "Eureka!" moment. I love to twist scrap clay and roll it out to see what kind of stripes I get.

I've also been working on ideas for an entry for PCAGOE's July challenge, the theme of which is "Vessels". I did this piece last night and entered it in the challenge. See all the little butterflies? I think I'm addicted...is there a Butterflies Anonymous?



To see photos of the other challenge entries, please visit our monthly challenge photo pool at flickr, and check back here on June 30 to see when and how to vote for your favorite Vessel!

Off to find more scrap clay and play mad scientist again...

My Pennsylvania Dutch Inspired Brooch Is Featured in A New Treasury!

My friend Jacki from CityDetails made this lovely treasury today called Lemon Lime and Others, and included my Pennsylvania Dutch Inspired Brooch. I love the bright colors of this one. Jacki, you done good, girl!



Jacki is a fellow South Carolinian, although she lives in the upstate near the mountains and I live in the lowcountry near the ocean. She is also a jewelry designer who has dabbled in polymer clay. I just learned today that she may be about to get serious about it. The PC Bug has bitten! I know she will be great at it. Jacki has a wonderful eye for color and composition, and I can't wait to see what she creates in clay. You must visit her shop to see more of her jewelry designs. Positively drool Inducing!

Keishi Pearls and Labradorite Bracelet









Sponge Coral and Pearl Necklace

My Blog Won The ONE LOVELY BLOG Award...Twice!

Thank you to Dori of SassyClayCreations and Arlene Harrison of Ashpaints for awarding me the "One Lovely Blog" award! I accept!

What a nice thing to wake up to on this glorious Summer Day. Dori, I am so happy you like my blog and will pass it on to 15 people whose blogs I enjoy.

1. Cynthia Tinapple at polymerclaydaily.com
2. Eugena Topina at polymerclaychameleon.com
3. Kira Slye and Ilysa Bierer at polymerclayproductions.com
4. Ruth at Lanyardlady
5. Laurel Steven at Rue's Daftique
6. Carolyn Saxby at LoveStitchingRed
7. DailyArtMuse
8. Elsa Mora
9. ArtBeadScene
10. Polymer Clay Smooshers
11. Sharon at LiveWireJewelry
12. Sharon Palac at Sharon's Jewelry Garden
13. Karen at The Graphics Fairy
14. Kristie at ArtisanClay
15. Julie Doust at MeanderingsbyJulz

and one more...even though that makes more than 15, I can't leave out my friend and mentor, Linda Riopel. I happen to know Linda received this award from Dori as well, but since Linda's blog is required reading for me every day, I have to include her, too!

Thank you again, Dori and Arlene, so much!

Lynda

Alphabet Soup Anyone?

I spent Friday night and most of Saturday working on my alphabet tiles for PCAGOE's Alphabet Project.

The Polymer Clay Artists Guild of Etsy (PCAGOE) sponsors several charitable projects each year, including our popular Alphabet Project. We will be making a mosaic to donate to a children's hospital or Ronald McDonald house. Each tile background is supposed to be white, and each tile measures 1/4" to 1/2" deep, 2" wide and 2" tall; and this year, we adopted a "A" is for...", "B" is for..." theme, so in addition to the letter, we are also required to design or depict the object we choose to be identified with our letter.

This year, I was assigned the "C" and the "X". I chose a Cowboy for the "C". The cowboy tile was fairly simple, a double image transfer onto a base of White Premo clay, but in my first four tries, I couldn't get a clean transfer. The "C" was much easier to do, a cutout topped with an image transfer of a red bandana pattern. I love my little "C".

Instead of the usual xylophone for "X", I chose to depict a Xebec. What is a Xebec, you ask? A Xebec is an ancient, 3-masted merchant ship believed to be Mediterranean in origin. I think the swirly "X" and the aqua and green waves give it a Mediterranean flair. What do you think?

My Faux Turquoise Brooch Is Featured In A New Treasury!

Thank you to Lilalba, who emailed me at Etsy this morning to tell me she included my Faux Turquoise Brooch in her lovely new Faux Turquoise Treasury. Thank you so much, Lilalba!

The Treasury also features one of Lilalba's own creations, her Elisa Earrings, a beautiful little pair of silver tipped, needle-felted earrings.




Faux Turquoise Brooch

My Faux Vintage Simple Beauty Brooch Featured in a New Treasury!

My friend and fellow PCAGOE member, Linda Riopel, a/k/a NKDesigns, created a new Etsy Treasury this morning and included my Faux Vintage Simple Beauty Brooch.

Linda has a way with Treasury titles and her Treasury collections are always beautiful. This one is no exception. She titled it "Classy Vintage PCAGOE" and included several of my favorite PCAGOE member artists. Check out Marcia Palmer's to-die-for earrings! Aren't they gorgeous?


Faux Vintage Simple Beauty Brooch

Thank you so much, Linda!

My Watchful Bird Brooch is Featured in a New Treasury!

Thank you, Donna Atkins of FolkArtByDonna for including my Watchful Bird Brooch in your luscious "Seeing Red" Treasury today. What a lovely surprise!



Watchful Bird Brooch









Donna Atkins is an artist from New England of whom I was not aware before appearing in her treasury, but I took one look in her shop and quickly marked her a new favorite seller.






I am a huge fan of primitive art and folk art and put several of her creations on my Christmas wish list. If you are also a fan of primitive folk art, you owe it to yourself to take a look at this very talented artist.



Thanks again, Donna!